Coaches hate this week of the preseason. It’s when the business side of football takes over, players who have worked their entire lives for an opportunity have their dreams dashed.

It’s hard.

On a human level, you have to say goodbye to people you’ve been around for months, people you’ve worked with, laughed with, shared meals with, day in and day out. While there is genuine excitement for the season, there is also real sadness.

But amongst all those difficult conversations, there are ones that you’d like to bottle up and replay over and over again. I imagine for Coach Saleh, two of those conversations this week were with undrafted free agents, (UDFAs) Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee.

“They called me, I came down and then they tricked me into believing I was gonna get released…[Saleh] said ‘I’m sorry…you made the team’” – Gipson

On 259 occasions during this year’s draft, a team approached the podium with an opportunity to select wide receivers Gipson or Brownlee. On 259 occasions, the teams passed on that opportunity.

If they want to look for further encouragement in their journey, they don’t have to look too far. Allen Lazard, Kenny Yeboah and Irvin Charles all went undrafted at different points and all made the Jets’ initial 53-man roster on offence – Yeboah has since been placed on IR.

Lazard in particular is an example worth trying to replicate. The former Green Bay Packer was a UDFA out of Iowa State in 2018 despite enjoying a productive four years in Ames. He finished his Cyclone career with 241 receptions, 3,360 yards and 26 touchdowns, yet failed to hear his name called over draft weekend.

He was then cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars during his rookie training camp and picked up by the Packers for their practice squad. Eventually, after having to be patient his rookie year, he worked his way up the Green Bay depth chart and finished his time in Wisconsin with a 2022 season that saw him catch 60 balls for 788 yards and 6 touchdowns.

First round picks often get the plaudits and the excitement, but the anatomy of an NFL roster means that your ability to spot talent further down the draft and amongst the pool of UDFAs is what separates some of the good teams from the great ones.

Besides the players mentioned above, the Jets will also carry a number of other UDFAs on the roster. Bryce Huff, Justin Hardee and Tony Adams were all players who failed to find a home through the draft process, and all of those players will play a key role for the Jets in 2023.

“It feels good, we came in together, we played at the NFLPA game together, so we already had a bond and just to make the team with him, knowing all the hard work we put in every day here. Just making sure we’re holding each other accountable at practice and even in the film room, so it feels good to know I’ve got my dog with me and I ain’t gotta go through it by myself” – Brownlee on making the team with Gipson

You don’t have to be a UDFA to be a feel-good story. Speaking to Jets fans, one name continued to come up when I asked about players they wanted to see make the roster.

Chazz Surratt.

Out of high school, Surratt was initially recruited to North Carolina as a quarterback but struggled to find consistency while working through injury. When highly touted QB Sam Howell arrived at Chapel Hill, Surratt had a choice to make, transfer and follow the quarterback dream or switch to defence and play linebacker.

He opted to stay and that decision was validated immediately.

In his first year as a linebacker, he racked up over 100 tackles with 15 for a loss, 6.5 sacks and an interception. The year after that he had 90+ tackles, 6 sacks and an interception.

It’s easy to see why the Minnesota Vikings chose to spend a third-round pick on him in 2021, especially when you add in his lightning-fast 4.59 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Things didn’t work out for Surratt in Minnesota, largely because it was believed he was unsuitable for former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell’s system. The Vikings loss was the Jets gain. Having spent a year on the practice squad getting to grips with the Jeff Ulbrich/Robert Saleh system, Surratt was able to play free and fast this preseason. His interception against Cleveland came to the obvious delight of Coach Saleh.

All of these players are a testament to the phrase ‘it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish’. Their journeys are nowhere near being complete, but they’re certainly on track.

When Robert Saleh took to the podium following the Jets 13-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he said there was “a lot of good tape that we can look at”. When he flips on the tape for the defence, he won’t have to wait too long.

On the very first defensive play of the game, a Jets defensive lineman shot the gap as a 3-tech penetrating into the backfield, using Tampa tight end Cade Otton as a battering ram to tackle his own running back for a 5-yard loss.

That in short, is what Quinton Jefferson brings to this football team.

Jefferson has only appeared in 21 snaps over two games so far this preseason, but he’s left his mark. His tackle for a loss against Tampa Bay was a fitting follow-up to his sack of Bryce Young last week against Carolina.

Not content to have a litany of defensive ends rotating on the outside, the Jets moved to improve their interior as well. Not only did they sign Jefferson who was coming off a career year in Seattle, but they also signed Al Woods as that dominating run-stuffer.

Jefferson not only racked up 5.5 sacks last year, but according to PFF, he generated 43 pressures. Two of those sacks last year came against the Jets, which clearly left a lasting impression on Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas.

Being able to penetrate the gaps ensures that there are no easy yards, it closes running lanes quickly, moves the QB off his placement and disrupts his reads. If the Jets can force the running backs to move horizontally it will open up opportunities for linebackers C.J Mosley, Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood to funnel to the football. It’ll also open opportunities for safeties Tony Adams and Jordan Whitehead to come downhill with authority and make statement plays.

Jefferson has been doing this for a long time. Having been a 5th round-pick out of Maryland back in 2016, he’s spent much of his career on the west coast with Seattle, with quick pit stops in Buffalo (2020) and Las Vegas (2021). Over seven years, he’s carefully honed his craft with the last two years being the most productive of his career.

In 34 games over that time period, Jefferson has 93 pressures, 10 sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, 76 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 3 pass defences. He’s also been completely healthy, and you know what they say about the best ability being availability.

He now gets to play next to one of the premier defensive tackles in football, Quinnen Williams, who, fresh off his contract renewal, will be looking to build on his dominating performance last season.

When you generate 12 sacks, 52 pressures and 12 tackles for a loss in 16 games, you’re going to draw attention. Quinnen draws double and triple teams by defensive coordinators trying to nullify his threat, which opens up opportunities for everyone else.

As week one draws ever closer, excitement continues to build around the 2023 NFL season, as the New York Jets look to make some noise in the AFC East.

There will be no gentle introduction to the season for the team, as they play on Monday Night Football against reigning division champs the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium in week one.

Contests with the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs in the weeks that follow will ensure that it’s a must-watch start to the season for the green and white in their pursuit of a first playoff berth in over a decade.

For fans in the United Kingdom, there are a number of ways to watch the Jets this season. Let’s run through them.

Sky Sports

Sky Sports will continue to be the home of the NFL on TV during the 2023 season, showing all primetime games: Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football and – importantly – the first ever Black Friday Game.

Alongside these late-night offerings, Sky also shows two games during the earlier window on a Sunday, at 6pm and 9pm UK time with the exception of week 8 when the end of British Summer Time pulls the NFL schedule forward by one hour.

These games are selected on a week-by-week basis meaning it’s unclear at this stage which of the Jets games will be shown live on Sky, but with six games in primetime over the course of the season, there will be plenty of guaranteed opportunities to watch them in action either way – as long as you’re willing to sacrifice some sleep.

Sky Sports will also be airing Hard Knocks, One Jets Drive and other Jets programming over the course of the 2023 season.

NFL Game Pass

NFL Game Pass has long been the all-access home for fans of the sport in the United Kingdom, and this season it has moved to a new host: DAZN.

A subscription offers fans access to all NFL games live and on-demand, with the sole exceptions of the Sunday 6pm and 9pm games selected on Sky Sports which are not available to watch live on Game Pass.

ITV

ITV is the NFL’s free-to-air partner here in the United Kingdom, with the rights to show highlights throughout the season as well as broadcasting London Games and the Super Bowl live.

talkSPORT

talkSPORT are the UK radio partner of the Jets, and will be broadcasting 13+ games over the airwaves over the course of the 2023 season.

Specific game broadcasts will be shared ahead of time on our website and socials for those planning to listen along.

Social Media

For those on the move or just looking for an additional way to connect with Jets fans, you can find gameday coverage on the New York Jets UK Twitter and Instagram channels all season – make sure to check in each week you’re able to join us!

New York Jets Announce Partnership with Sportsbreaks.com, a United Kingdom Based Global Sports Travel Business

The deal is the first between an NFL team and a Match Break partner, and marks the club’s first exclusive United Kingdom Partnership

August 22, 2023 – The agreement between The New York Jets and Sportsbreaks.com, a global sports travel business based in Manchester, England, who offers ticket-inclusive packages to many of the world’s top sporting events, makes the company an official partner of the NFL club in the United Kingdom. This partnership will allow New York Jets fans in the UK to watch their favorite team at MetLife Stadium while seeing the sights of New York.

“We’re excited to partner with Sportsbreaks.com to give our international fans a unique opportunity to enjoy the Jets gameday experience at MetLife Stadium,” said Ian Lasher, Jets SVP, Corporate Partnerships. “Partnering with Sportsbreaks.com, a business with a wealth of knowledge in the sports travel industry, allows us to continue reaching and impacting our fans across the globe. We pride ourselves in bridging the gap with our passionate fanbase in the United Kingdom, expanding our partnerships worldwide, and giving our fans access to New York Jets experience.”

In connection with the UK fan gameday packages, the partnership includes Sportsbreaks.com sponsorship of the Jets in UK digital Fan Hub which includes team information, event updates, exclusive content, and promotional giveaways for UK-based Jets fans. Both Sportsbreaks.com and the Jets will collaborate to engage all of the team’s fans in the UK with digital programmatic advertising and posts on Jets UK social media channels (@NYJetsinUK on X, @NewYorkJetsinUK on Instagram). This partnership builds upon Sportsbreaks.com’s existing relationship with NFL UK where it offers official ticket and hotel breaks to the NFL London Games.

“We are proud of our longstanding relationship with the NFL and as the Sportsbreaks.com brand continues to grow, we are excited to develop relationships with its teams, starting with the Jets,” said Sportsbreaks.com Managing Director, Rob Slawson. “From the outset, we were excited by the New York Jets plans to engage with and grow their UK fanbase as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program. We look forward to supporting these plans and providing Jets fans with an opportunity to watch their team at MetLife Stadium in the years to come. New York is already one of the world’s most in-demand tourist destinations but throw in the chance to watch the Jets at MetLife Stadium and I can’t think of many better weekends for a football fan.” For UK fan gameday packages to New York Jets games via Sportsbreaks.com, visit sportsbreaks.com/NFL/New-York-Jets

The Jets were awarded international marketing rights to the United Kingdom in 2022 as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program initiative. The initiative provided all 32 NFL clubs the right to pursue and bid on international markets with the goal of globally expanding the game of American football.

About Sportsbreaks.com

Sportsbreaks.com is an award-winning sports travel business offering ticket-inclusive packages to many of the world’s top sporting events including European soccer, Rugby World Cup and numerous Formula 1 races. Within football, Sportsbreaks.com counts an existing presence via its relationship as official Match Break Sponsor of the NFL, offering ticket and hotel breaks to the NFL London Games.

About the New York Jets

The New York Jets were founded in 1959 as the New York Titans, an original member of the American Football League (AFL). The Jets won Super Bowl III, defeating the NFL’s Baltimore Colts in 1969. In 1970, the franchise joined the National Football League in the historic AFL–NFL merger that set the foundation for today’s league. As part of a commitment to its fan base through innovation and experiences, the team has created initiatives such as, its trailblazing Jets Rewards program, a state-of-the-art mobile app, and Jets 360 Productions, a comprehensive content platform that gives fans greater access to the team across all digital and social platforms. The organization takes great pride in a long-standing, year-round commitment to their community. These programs are funded by the New York Jets Foundation and look to positively influence the lives of young men and women in the tri-state area, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The organization supports the efforts of the Lupus Research Alliance, youth football and numerous established charitable organizations and causes sponsored by the NFL. The New York Jets play in MetLife Stadium, which opened in 2010, and are headquartered at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. For more information about the New York Jets visit newyorkjets.com.

“Obviously, you never want to say no to a great player.”

Those were the words of Jets coach Robert Saleh back in the middle of July when he was asked about four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook. Fast-forward to today, and that great player is officially a New York Jet. With his addition, the Jets now possess one of the deepest and most threatening running back rotations in football.

The good news for the running back room continued with the news that second-year player Breece Hall has officially been activated from the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list, and will now (slowly) take part in practice sessions in an effort to ramp up for the new season. Coach Saleh said the team was “very confident” that Breece would be ready for week one against Buffalo and that Cook’s addition didn’t change the timeline.

What it does do is create a whole lot of problems for defensive coordinators.

Some may struggle to understand the need, but as Coach Saleh said, “I look at it like our d-line (defensive line), you can never have enough and just let them rotate and be fresh and get downhill and wear people out.

Back in 2020, with Nathaniel Hackett and Aaron Rodgers calling the shots for the Green Bay offence, the Packers used 21 personnel (2 running backs) on 14% of all plays, double the league average. They used Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams to create a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators.

That year, those two players combined for 320 carries, 1,609 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground, and 78 receptions, 591 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. The Jets, thanks to their depth, will be able to run multiple variations throughout the game, keeping players fresh, physical and fast.

But what does Dalvin Cook bring to the franchise in 2023?

You can’t talk about Dalvin now without talking about Dalvin’s record. Four Pro Bowls, four straight seasons of 1000+ rushing yards, 52 NFL touchdowns, and a whole lot of experience.

It’s never a bad thing to add experience to a room. Despite the obvious talent, the Jets running back room was and is a very young group. Breece is heading into year two with just half a season of on-field experience, Israel (Izzy) Abanikanda is a rookie, and Michael Carter is heading into year three. Dalvin has nearly 1,300 rushing attempts to his name. He’s seen every formation and every defensive philosophy designed to stop and control the rushing attack, and he’s developed ways to beat it.

He’s also one of the most physical presences. “He’s not a trick back either. You can turn around and hand him the ball and he can run downhill and he’s done it for a long time”, as Coach Saleh said.

Last year, only three players had more rushing yards after contact than Cook (842); he also forced 51 missed tackles, using his speed/power combination to good effect. He ranked inside the top 10 in terms of explosive plays with 30 attempts that went for 10+ yards, with 12 of those going for 15+ yards.

Coach Saleh mentioned that the plan for the running-back room was clearly communicated to the players before the signing to ensure that everyone was on the same page. Cook, Hall, Carter, Izzy and Zonovan (Bam) Knight all bring certain skill sets that can be utilised in different ways.

For years, Cook had to act as the Minnesota bell cow, carrying the load. Here, he’ll be part of an extremely talented rotation, enabling him to do what he does best – to be a home-run threat every time he touches the ball.

Undrafted free agents (UDFAs) tend to make up between 20-30% of active NFL teams every year. Hitting on a first-round pick will justify the investment, but nothing is more satisfying than striking gold with a UDFA.

The Jets have a number of promising players from this year’s UDFA pool with Jason Brownlee turning heads at camp, Xavier Gipson’s speed being noticeable, and Trey Dean  hitting anything and everything that moved during the Browns game.

But the biggest and best surprise of Training Camp so far may come in the form of Tony Adams, a UDFA out of Illinois that joined the Jets last offseason, made the team, and then went from strength to strength when given the opportunity to get on the field.

This summer he’s continued to build on last season’s momentum, making a number of impressive plays. When asked about Adams in a press conference, Coach Saleh said that the cat was out of the bag when it comes to Adams, meaning his secret success is secret no more.

In the run-up to the draft, Adams put on a show at every stop. His Relative Athletic Score, a metric which tests speed, agility, explosion and size, came in at 9.76 out of 10. That number would have ranked him #3 at CB, #3 at FS, and #1 at SS in his draft class.

He was also coming off a college career where he posted 206 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, 3 sacks, 6 interceptions and 1 forced fumble.

So how did a guy who’s incredibly athletic and incredibly productive go undrafted?

The answer to that question is based on his versatility as Coach Saleh relayed in his press conference:

“In Tony’s case, he’s so smart and so versatile, that he played a lot of different positions at Illinois and while that’s great for Illinois, it kind of hides the player a little bit.”

Adams was a Swiss army knife in the defence of Lovie Smith for the majority of his time in Champaign, Illinois.

When he first arrived at Illinois he became the first true Freshman to start at outside corner in over a decade, and considering he’d recently suffered a torn ACL while playing at St. Louis University High School, that’s impressive.

His freshman year he suffered another season-ending injury, this time to his shoulder, another setback, and another hurdle that Adams cleared with the kind of perseverance that turns a UDFA into a starting NFL defender.

According to PFF statistics, Adams spent over 250 snaps in the box, over 450 snaps as a free safety, over 350 snaps as a slot corner and over 1000 snaps as an outside corner.

There’s versatility, and then there is Tony Adams. He was asked to wear so many hats, teams didn’t know which hat fit him best, and sometimes when you move around a lot, it’s difficult to get a consensus.

That worked to the Jets advantage, as they were able to snag him once the draft was done. His performance in last year’s camp ensured he made the roster, and now he’s in competition with Ashtyn Davis and veteran Adrian Amos for the starting free safety position, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say he’s leading the way.

Coach Saleh was asked about Adams last week, following an impressive performance running with the first-team defence:

His mental makeup. He checks all the boxes physically, he’s got red line, the red line speed, he’s physical in the box. He’s got great instincts in the run game. He’s got great fuel in the passing, he checks all that stuff.

There’s a lot of people in this League who check those boxes, but there’s only a few that check his mental makeup and everything about him. He’s excited about everything. You see him in a special teams drill, he’s talking crap, you see him in individual, he’s talking, he just loves being out there.

He loves ball. He loves the process. He loves everything, so as long as he keeps that drive and that love for football and that childlike love and enthusiasm, I think he will be alright.

A few days later he grabbed the social media headlines again as he picked off Aaron Rodgers on a deep pass over the middle.

That’s where he’ll make his money for the Jets. Using his explosion and speed to close windows and make plays on the ball.

When asked in college to name his favourite athlete, he said Kobe Bryant, not because of his skill but because “of his mindset and his work ethic.” Which says everything you need to know about Adams.

We didn’t get the chance to see Adams last week against the Browns, as he did not dress, along with the starters, this week he should receive some playing time against Carolina, and if training camp is anything to go by, Bryce Young better keep his eyes peeled for #22 lurking in centre field.

With Kwon Alexander signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, we have confirmation that there will be a new starting weakside linebacker roaming the field with the Jets’ base defence when the Buffalo Bills roll into town in week one.

Coach Saleh was asked about the competition for that vacant spot, and he confirmed that it’s all to play for: “We do have a really good competition going on for that third spot with Nas (Hamsah Nasirildeen) and Sherwood, along with Z (Zaire Barnes).”

Jamien Sherwood has had to be patient. After being selected out of Auburn in the 5th round of the 2021 draft, the converted safety made four starts as a rookie before a torn achilles at the Patriots game prematurely ended his season.

It was a devastating blow for a player who was just finding his footing in the league. Following that game, Saleh had some words of comfort for a player who knew he faced a long road to recovery

“He’s one of the guys who’s going to be a staple here,” Saleh said after that Patriots game. “He studies his butt off. As for his size, he is going to get bigger when he gets a full NFL offseason and meal plan. He has the ability to uncoil and tackle people, one of the best in the draft. He doesn’t give up many leaky yards. Let’s just say that and he’s only going to get better.”

Although he was a fixture of the special teams unit from the start of the year, Sherwood didn’t make his defensive bow in the 2022 season until week nine against Buffalo. With the defence rolling, well on their way to being the 4th best unit with points per game against resting at just 18.6, Sherwood had to be patient.

Now with a healthy season in the bag and a full NFL offseason under his belt, Sherwood is ready to take the next step, and opportunity has come knocking.

In an interview with team reporter Ethan Greenberg, Sherwood confirmed that after entering the league at 212 lbs, he bulked up to 237 lbs this off-season, and that added strength and power is evident when you see him on the practice field.

If the physical transformation is clear for all to see, the most underappreciated aspect of the transition from college safety to NFL linebacker is the mental adjustment. Sherwood credits the coaching staff and veterans like C.J. Mosley for providing the coaching needed from a scheme and technical point of view.

Although 2022 must have been frustrating with Sherwood only seeing 25 snaps on defence, you won’t hear a single complaint from him. He took the time to tap into players like Mosley and Alexander, absorbing all the information that comes with 16 years of NFL experience.

Now, he’s hungry to show what he can do; as he said to Greenberg: “A wolf that’s climbing the mountain is always hungrier than the wolf on top of the mountain”.

Although we’ve often seen Sherwood as the ideal middle linebacker candidate because of his communication and natural leadership, with C.J. Mosley in the building, Sherwood will likely have to start building his resume at the outside spot. In a role that requires versatility, his experience as a safety will come in useful when asked to drop into coverage.

According to PFF, Sherwood was targeted 59 times over three years at Auburn, and the Florida native allowed just 61% of passes to be completed, surrendering one touchdown but bringing down one interception to go with five pass breakups.

Thought to be one of the better run defenders at Auburn, it’s easy to see why the Jets decided to draft and mould him into a linebacker. When you combine an ability to cover with a nose for the football in the run game and outstanding tackling technique, you have yourself a player.

His progress hasn’t gone unnoticed among his peers either; earlier in camp C.J Mosley highlighted Sherwood’s work ethic, something that Coach Saleh references nearly every time he talks about the third-year player:

“I’m excited for what [Sherwood] is going to bring this year. He’s one of the smartest players on our defence and on this team. He’s a hard worker, one of the hardest workers in the weight room and classroom. I feel like he’s got a great chance to really show what he’s about.”

The first pre-season game against Cleveland will represent his first chance to really make a statement. With Coach Saleh confirming that the starters will miss that game, he’ll likely start as the middle linebacker in place of Mosley.

Although the Jets do play with two linebackers in their sub-package, Kwon appeared in 558 defensive snaps last year, which represents 558 opportunities for one of the young linebackers to make a statement. Sherwood is determined it’ll be him.

Football is back. The New York Jets’ 2023 season will get its first chapter written as pre-season begins for Robert Saleh’s men when the Jets face the Cleveland Browns in Canton, Ohio in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game.

The Jets offseason has been a movie, one that has seen so much happen including trading for future hall of fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and plenty of free-agent signings like Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Quinton Jefferson. The Jets are in a great position to do some amazing things this upcoming season.

We could talk all day about how good the offseason has been, what has gone on and what to expect from 2023, but the first hurdle is their pre-season opener against the Browns.

The Jets have been practising well so far at Training Camp, with the hard knocks cameras there to capture all. New signings and current players performing impressively with the anticipation for the season rising by the second. Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton is no doubt the biggest question mark heading into Thursday night’s game for the Jets. Having not played a game for two years, suffering injury after injury, he is finally back at tackle for New York.

Robert Saleh also confirmed earlier this week that Zach Wilson, and other non-starters will get game time in Canton, so seeing how Becton gets on ahead of the regular season is going to be something Jets fans will be keen on viewing.

These two teams faced off in week two of the 2022 season in a game that went down to the final seconds, seeing the Jets win 31-30 with a last-gasp Garrett Wilson touchdown. Back then, the Browns didn’t have quarterback Deshaun Watson, who will now have former Jet Elijah Moore to call upon as a receiver, who was traded to Cleveland back in March.

Not many people know what to expect from the Browns this season, with their division the AFC North being a tough one to predict with both the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens looking strong, but the Browns still have a solid roster, and some of those players will be on show this week.

The game on Thursday won’t give people much to go off ahead of the new season, with both sides having three more pre-season games to follow, but it will be a chance for fringe players to impress, in hope of seeing their name called when it comes to Saleh selecting his 53-man-roster.

The annual season kick-off game will also serve as a prelude to Saturday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, when two former Jets will take their place in Canton.

“I give you one guy, Jermaine Johnson, who scratched the surface last year, Now he’s bigger, stronger, faster, smarter when it comes down to the scheme … That guy right there took the initiative this offseason to get better. I’m sure he’s going to have a breakout year this year.” – Quinnen Williams

When one of the very best defensive players in football singles you out for praise, unprompted, you know you’re doing something right.

When that praise is backed up by your Head Coach, even better.

“I don’t know if you guys have noticed, he looks massive in a good way. He looks explosive, he’s very powerful. If you hold a bag, he’s just so heavy handed. Very powerful player, so really expecting him to take a jump this year. Excited about where his mindset is, his confidence, his competitive spirit, all of it. He’s in a good place right now,” Robert Saleh said.

It’s sometimes easy to get lost in the shuffle when you are part of the same draft class as Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, but Jets second year defensive end Jermaine Johnson is ready to make his own statement in 2023.

After a promising rookie campaign which saw him register 2.5 sacks, 29 tackles (3 TFL), and one marquee moment running down highly athletic Bills quarterback Josh Allen for a shoestring tackle, the excitement and expectation is building for the Jets’ new number 11.

He has already cemented himself as one of the premier run defenders on the edge. According to PFF, Johnson recorded a run-stop rate of 9.8%, a number good enough to lead all rookie edge rushers and rank eighth-best out of 129 qualified edge players.

His ability to stack and shed blocks and his speed in pursuit of the ball carrier was exceptional. To make the next leap, he’ll be looking to increase those sack numbers and camp in opponent backfields.

When you consider his production came in a rotational role, it’s easy to see why everyone is excited about what year two will bring.

Physically he looks in prime condition, but the biggest win could come in his comfort in the system having had over 12 months to comprehend the complexities of the defence and understand his own role within it.

Johnson said as much when he met the media over the weekend, following a session where he registered several pressures and a would-be sack of Aaron Rodgers:

“Just understanding the scheme and being able to play fast,” Johnson said about what’s different this year. “I have been able to use my God-given abilities and hone them and play with an improved mindset and consistency.”

Last year Johnson showed off his 4.58 40-yard-dash speed on the edge, aligned out wide he had the speed to go around the tackles, or the power to go through them.

When asked recently in a NY Post interview about his sack style, Johnson replied:

“Just meet to the fight point. If you’re even with me, I’m leaving you, and if you beat me there, I’m going through you, or inside. That’s pretty simple (laugh).”

This perfectly highlights his versatility to win with speed or strength; if he can introduce some inside counter moves then the sky’s the limit.

The Robert Saleh/Jeff Ulbrich system is predicated on getting pressure without having to blitz, and that’s something they managed to do as well as any team in the league last year.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Jets pressured teams on 25.4% of snaps, which was the 3rd highest rate in football. But they blitzed just 14.9% of the time, the lowest rate in the NFL.

The two teams who had a higher pressure rate, the Philadelphia Eagles (25.5%) and the Dallas Cowboys (25.6%), also blitzed at a much higher rate; the Cowboys at 25.6% and the Eagles at 22.1%.

If the Jets repeat that this year, they can continue to confuse quarterbacks with their coverage schemes, dropping extra players into the middle of the field; it’s going to fall to guys like Johnson to win his matchups on the edge.

Getting after the quarterback will generate headlines, especially if Johnson can do so in the new Legacy White throwback uniforms, a nod to the New York Sack Exchange jerseys, but protecting the edge is vital to winning in today’s NFL, especially against quarterbacks who have home run potential with their arms and legs.

Which is why his run-down of Josh Allen last season was so impressive. There are only a handful of defensive ends who have Johnson’s athleticism and size combination, and the number of players capable of tracking Allen to the sideline is even smaller.

According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson recorded 37 defensive stops during his final year at Florida State. They consider a defensive stop any tackle that constitutes a failure for the offence. If you consider he had 14 sacks, that means he had over 20 tackles in the run game which resulted in a failure for the offence.

Far from a one-dimensional pass-rusher, Johnson is a modern-day edge who takes as much pride in stuffing the run as sacking the quarterback. Having recently had his first child, he’s often spoken about his determination to leave a legacy, not only to be feared by the opposition but respected for doing something special.

The Jets are bringing back a modernized version of arguably the franchise’s most popular uniform combination that will take fans back to the “Sack Exchange Era.”

The team revealed its “Legacy White” throwback uniforms— a design reminiscent of the uniforms worn by the team from 1979-89 — this morning. The Jets will wear the throwbacks in the national spotlight twice this regular season — Week 1 vs. Buffalo on Sept. 11 and Week 4 vs. Kansas City on Oct. 1. A limited number of tickets remain for both games on Ticketmaster.com.

The Jets’ throwbacks are highlighted by a Sack Exchange logo decal affixed to its current helmet shell with a white face mask. Using the team’s current “Gotham Green” colorway, the jersey features double-stripe shoulders and single-stripe pants, the same design the team wore throughout this era. The Legacy White uniforms utilize Nike Vapor F.U.S.E. technology, a product built to maximize team performance.

When the Green & White wear their throwbacks, MetLife Stadium will also be updated with Legacy branding including the Jets Sack Exchange logo on the 50-yard line. There will also be Legacy-themed end zones, a throwback wall wrap and in-game entertainment that will take fans back to the era.

On the sideline, players, coaches and staff will wear Legacy gear. As part of the release, a special Legacy Collection featuring jerseys, jackets, hoodies, caps and T-shirts is now available on JetsShop.com and will also be available at Training Camp and on gamedays in the Jets Shop.

The uniform release coincides with a celebratory year for the team, as Joe Klecko — a centerpiece of the Sack Exchange era— will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 5 alongside four-time first-team All Pro Darrelle Revis. Each player will receive his Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence during halftime ceremonies this season (Klecko, Oct. 1 & Revis, Nov. 6)

Per the NFL’s uniform policy, teams are allowed to wear a combination of throwback uniforms and alternate uniforms up to three times during the season. The Jets will wear their alternate “Stealth Black” uniform at home against the Dolphins in the NFL’s first Black Friday game.

With their throwbacks, the Jets will pay homage to an era that had six eventual Ring of Honor members in Klecko, Marty Lyons, Mark Gastineau, Freeman McNeil, Wesley Walker and Al Toon. The Jets were postseason participants in 1981, ’82, ’85 and ’86, the New York Sack Exchange was born in 1981 as the Jets paced the NFL with 66 sacks, and Freeman McNeil rushed for a career-high 1,331 yards in 1985.

The Green & White’s epic 51-45 win over the Dolphins in 1986 that saw Ken O’Brien and Walker connect for 4 TDs including the game-winner in overtime is considered one of the NFL’s greatest games.